Home router authentication device

Abstract

A user authorization device (or UAD) physically connected to a user's router to aid in the authentication of the user. A bank server polls the user's router to verify that the UAD is connected to the router before granting the user the capability to perform transactions on the user's account that would be otherwise restricted. The bank server implements a set of policies designed by the user that require the UAD to be present for some transactions with the account to be performed. The presence of this device thus adds an extra layer of security to such financial transactions beyond the use of a username and password.

We claim: 
     
       1. A system comprising:
 a router connected to a wireless local area network, wherein the router comprises a port; 
 a user authentication device (UAD) of a user, wherein the UAD stores an identifier and an authentication application; 
 a user computing device of the user; 
 a communications device communicatively connected to a transaction server and to an authentication server; 
 the authentication server storing an authentication database comprising authentication policies and security logic; 
 the transaction server storing an account database and running a transfer module; a bank server comprising the transaction server, the authentication server, and one or more applications that, when executed by the bank server, cause the bank server to perform the steps of:
 storing a set of authentication policies for a user account of the user in the authentication database; 
 logging the user into the user account; 
 receiving a transaction request associated with the user account from the user computing device; 
 checking the set of authentication policies for the user account in the authentication database that the presence of the UAD is required for the received transaction request; 
 determining, based on the received transaction request and the set of authentication policies for the user account, that the UAD is required for executing a transaction corresponding to the transaction request; 
 determining, based on the determination that the UAD is required, that the UAD is plugged into the router by polling the router; 
 executing the requested transaction in response to the determining that the UAD is plugged into the router based on the polling of the router. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the authentication server is configured to determine that the identifier includes at least one of a user identification and a unique code. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the determination that the user authentication device is plugged into the router further comprises comparing the identifier from the UAD to a previously stored identifier. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the bank server transmits a one-time password to another device associated with the user account and requires receipt of the one-time password back to the server from the user computing device. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the bank server requires two-factor authentication before executing the transfer of funds request. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the user computing device is in wireless communication with the router. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the user authentication device is plugged into the router via the port.